Leprosy

A slow bacterial infection of skin and nerves. Curable, and still reported in dozens of countries.

Is leprosy worse than usual anywhere?

Too little to compare in any country this week.

What is leprosy?

Leprosy is a long-lasting infection caused by a germ (bacterium). It mainly harms the skin and the nerves, and can also affect the eyes and nose.

Signs: Pale or discoloured skin patches that feel numb, and numbness, tingling or weakness in the hands or feet.
How it spreads: Through droplets from the nose and mouth of someone who is not being treated, after long, close contact. Short or casual contact does not spread it, and treated people stop spreading it.
How to protect yourself: Find and treat cases early. Family and close contacts of a patient should be checked and may get a single dose of medicine to protect them.
Get medical help: See a health worker for any numb skin patch. Leprosy is curable with medicines WHO gives free, and early treatment prevents lasting disability.

In Dooram's words, from the World Health Organization. Source: WHO fact sheet: Leprosy, read 8 October 2026. General information, not medical advice.

What "usual" means.

Sources. Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, weekly report; Field Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Division, National Institutes of Health, Islamabad, weekly report.